Many U.S. public school buildings are in dire need of renovations, as the average age of U.S. school buildings is approximately 49 years, and an estimated 53% have never undergone any major renovations. By renovating, upgrading, and improving the resilience of school buildings, schools can maintain a safe and modern learning environment for students and faculty and be better prepared for extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change like wildfires and heat.
Sep 20 2024
State by State Data: August Employment Data
Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases national and state-level data on U.S. employment, which provide useful information about the state of the labor market and progress toward building a better America. The below map and chart created by the Joint Economic Committee highlight key trends in the most recent monthly data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The most recent state-level data, which cover the month of August 2024, were released on September 20th, 2024.
Sep 19 2024
Celebrating Success: How Latinos Helped Fight Economic Inequality through Labor Movements
Hispanics and Latinos have always been a part of the American story, and their leadership in important labor movementshas helped ensure that workers of all backgrounds can demand better wages and on-the-job protections.
Sep 16 2024
Economic Update - September 16, 2024
Farmworkers are essential workers who provide food to families across the country and fuel the U.S. economy with their work. As climate change exacerbates extreme events like heatwaves and wildfires, these workers face elevated health risks and even death, given these labor-intensive jobs are mostly done outdoors. Many farmworkers work through these dangerous conditions for very little pay. Democrats in Congress and the Biden-Harris administration are responding to these conditions by expanding farmworker protections around heat and mitigating wildfire risks while also supporting farmworkers' labor rights. Together, these efforts will help make sure farmworkers are safe, healthy, and able to support their families without risking their lives on the job.
Sep 09 2024
Economic Update - September 9, 2024
Wages and salaries have risen significantly throughout the United States since January 2021. Updated calculations by the JEC Democrats find that average U.S. wages and salaries grew by over $17,600 between January 2021 and July 2024, outpacing price growth during that period by nearly $4,500.
Recent global economic disruptions have underscored the need for resilient supply chains in the United States. “Nearshoring”—or bringing more production back to the U.S. or to its immediate neighbors Canada and Mexico—is one solution for addressing supply-chain vulnerabilities as proximity and integrated markets make these kinds of disruptions less likely. The United States’ North American neighbors have a large role to play in improving supply-chain reliability, increasing trade and economic output, and advancing climate objectives.
Project 2025 is a radical plan that details how a Republican administration would undercut working families by making health care and higher education less affordable; providing less support to families; and rolling back climate enforcement and research. This Republican plan would concentrate power within the executive branch, make life harder for working people, and cede power to Big Pharma and other corporations.
Aug 16 2024
State by State Data: July Employment Data
Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases national and state-level data on U.S. employment, which provide useful information about the state of the labor market and progress toward building a better America. The below map and chart created by the Joint Economic Committee highlight key trends in the most recent monthly data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The most recent state-level data, which cover the month of July 2024, were released on August 16th, 2024. The latest national data were released on August 2nd, 2024.